Families

(WXIA) -- More than 80,000 Georgia children are enrolled in the state's Pre-K Program for the 2014-15 school year.

Pre-K is open to all 4 year olds, regardless of household income. Assistant commissioner Susan Adams said that it is the first school experience for many children.

"For this reason, we take our roles very seriously, and we work really hard to provide Georgia's children with positive and meaningful experiences," Adams said in a release.

In Pre-K, students study language, literacy and math while making new friends and building foundations for lifelong learning. The Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning recommends parents visit their children's classrooms in advance to familiarize them with their new surroundings, and dress them in comfortable clothes and shoes every day. If students have a tendency to feel lonely, parents can send them to school with family photos to cheer them up, and blankets or stuffed animals to snuggle at naptime.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), almost two-thirds of home fire deaths resulted from fires in properties without working smoke alarms. A properly installed and maintained smoke alarm is the first thing in a home that can alert families to a fire 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“Whether you're awake or asleep, a working smoke alarm is constantly on alert, scanning the air for fire and smoke,” says Fire Chief Larry Few of the Fulton County Fire Rescue Department. “As firefighters, we continually remind residents to check their smoke alarms to ensure they are working properly.”

The NFPA offers the following tips to help residents safeguard their homes from home fires:

FULTON COUNTY, Ga. -- Fulton County parents or guardians searching for after school programs can take advantage of the after school program offered by Fulton County Parks and Recreation. Registration is now open for the program, which begins Monday, August 11 at four recreation centers located in unincorporated South Fulton.

The Parks and Recreation Afterschool Program will be open from 2:30 p.m. until 6 p.m. on weekdays when school is in session. The program services children between the ages of 5 and 12. The cost is $40 per child per week for unincorporated Fulton County residents, with a one-time registration fee of $15 per child. Space is limited, so interested parents or guardians are urged to register now.

FULTON COUNTY, Ga. -- Treat dad to a special event on Father’s Day at the Wolf Creek Amphitheater’s One Love reggae concert.

Enjoy the food, music and culture of Jamaica with Sanchez, Everton Blender, Admiral Bailey, Frankie Paul and Leroy ‘Heptone’ Sibble. The gates open at 3 p.m., with show time at 5 p.m. Lawn seats are $25 for adults, and children ages 12 and under are free in general admission.

Come out and experience some of the best reggae music ever. Online and phone sales close at 3 p.m. on the day of the show, and the Amphitheater box office opens two hours prior to show time. For additional venue information, citizens can visit www.wolfcreekamphitheater.com.

(WXIA) -- Kroger customers in metro Atlanta recently showed that they are a charitable bunch.

During the final two weeks in May, shoppers raised $232,000 for the Children's Miracle Network through the Miracle Balloons promotion.

For only $1, a customer could purchase a paper balloon to hang in a local Kroger. All proceeds from the fundraiser went directly to Children's Miracle Network hospitals and health networks, such as Children's Hospital of Georgia in Augusta and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.

"Kroger customers consistently show their care for our communities by constantly going above and beyond with their charitable donations," Glynn Jenkins, spokesperson for Kroger's Atlanta division, said in a release. "Through their support of the Miracle Balloons program, we can continue to make a difference in the lives of children."

FULTON COUNTY, Ga. -- Fulton County Commissioner Emma I. Darnell, District 5, the Fulton County Board of Commissioners and Fulton County Arts and Culture, will celebrate the Grand Opening of the Fulton County Aviation Community Cultural Center (ACCC) on Thursday, June 19 at 10 a.m.

The grand opening celebration will kick off three days of activities organized to introduce the new facility to the community and increase awareness of the center, its programming and activities.

The center is located at 3900 Aviation Circle, Atlanta on the grounds of Fulton County Airport – Brown Field. It is designed as a community gathering place and will focus on the following types of programming:

FULTON COUNTY, Ga. -- Fulton County Senior Multipurpose Facilities will host Community Days in May in observance of Older Americans Month 2014.

Community Days are designed for adults and children of all ages and feature games, entertainment, refreshments and information regarding services available for seniors through the Fulton County Office of Aging. Event dates include the following: